4 Reasons To Try Yoga This Fall

If our Instagram feeds are to be believed, yoga is basically everywhere—and in fact, a 2016 study revealed that nearly 37 million people are already practicing yoga in the U.S., with another 80 million Americans likely to try it within the next year. But before you dismiss this ancient mind-body system as “the latest workout trend,” let’s dispel a few myths that may be standing between you and a potentially life-changing practice. Here are our top four reasons get your asana moving this fall.

1. It’s good for your body.

While most yoga classes won’t give you a serious cardio workout, just about any series (whether you roll out your mat in a studio or your living room) will deliver a variety of proven health benefits, when practiced over time. The obvious one is improved flexibility, which may come quickly to you or unfold over time. But yoga can also help build muscle strength, improve posture, promote bone health, boost circulation, reduce blood pressure, improve balance and strengthen the immune system, for starters.

2. It’s good for your soul (however you may define that).

Yogic tradition doesn’t separate mind and body the way Western medicine does, so many of its benefits extend beyond what Americans might think of purely physical. In yoga, it’s all connected. Slow, flowing movement and measured breathing are known to calm the the nervous system, which can help to reduce stress and improve mental clarity…all of which contribute to overall happiness. Proof: in the 2016 study mentioned earlier, 86% of practitioners reported that yoga gave them a strong sense of mental focus.

3. It’s for everyone.

While the yoga portrayed on social media may skew toward the “low-BMI, spandex-clad millennial” end of the fitness spectrum, in reality this system of mindful movements is broad enough to accommodate virtually every body type and level of practitioner. In fact, less than 20% of U.S. yogis are under 30, with 30–49-year-olds making up the largest demographic…almost 40% are over 50!

If you’re brand-new to the practice, consider taking a “foundations” course at your local studio—this will give you the opportunity to learn the postures in a supported environment with an instructor on hand to ensure healthy alignment. If you’ve been to a few classes and need help deciding on a studio or teacher for regular instruction, this guide from the experts at Yoga Journal may help point you in the right direction.

4. Carepoynt makes your practice even more chill.

Need a few more reasons to get onto that mat? Carepoynt is excited to have a number of partners and valuable Poynt opportunities in the yoga space. Global wellness giant Gaiam and its sporty sister line, SPRI, can hook you up with key supplies—including yoga mats, blocks, straps, bolsters and a variety of meditation props as well as a selection of yoga and workout DVDs. Brighter Yoga has the apparel angle covered, in addition to a range of accessories and even home goods. And our partner YogaDownload makes it possible to take your practice anywhere, with hundreds of streaming classes for every kind of yogi…no spandex required.